newegg constantly has computer bundles on sale, so that's a start. newegg should be the answer anyway since you'll know and get details of the parts inside. only excuse is if you live in Cali 'cause they get taxed.
go with an AMD based computer for max performance at low prices. ATI vid cards then become the main priority 'cause they work better with AMD and tend to be cheaper too (though the difference between ATI and NVIDIA in price isn't that high usually). Intel is in some ways better, but 90% of stuff has no real difference. that 10% is basically physx (which you can do with AMD anyway by just getting a separate vid card if you really want to) and some stuff related to emulators. otherwise, that's it.
also know the kind of tower you're after. odds are, a mid tower would be it since it's large enough to do what you want 9/10 times, a full tower's friggin' huge, and smaller ones are just too small to mess around with most of the time.
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The future must protect the clone's past.
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.